Weltwärts with Welthaus Bielefeld – what is that about?

• 1 year voluntary work related to development policy in Latin America (Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru) or Southern Africa (South Africa, Mozambique)

• Support by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development  (BMZ) within the framework of the weltwärts-programme

• 30 years of experience and competence in educational and project work related to development policy

·         Commitment in local Non-Governmental organizations and associations that reflect a broad spectrum of work related to development policy.

• Networking with other organizations whose work is related to the respective countries

• Accompaniment and preparation by experienced volunteers and full time employees that have a broad knowledge about the countries that are at disposal

• Experience with more than 170 welwärts-volunteers since the beginning of the programm three years ago

• Individual interviews and assignment of projects

• Personal care

• Involvement of the host organizations in the selection and conception of the programm

• Country specific and country comprehensive preparation including an introduction about development policy, intercultural competence, security/safety and gender

• Individual options/choice in the preparation for the acquisition of practical skills that can be applied during the service, as for example text, image, video and theatre

• Chance to commit yourself as a returnee  

·         Contact with the embassies in the countries

·         Experienced tutors in the countries that can give advice in case of problems

·         In some countries, there are additional possibilities to tackle with country specific topics in groups

• According to the guidelines of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the voluntary service as an alternative service abroad can substitute the community service as as well as the military service

The following applies to the voluntary service 2011/2012:

Prerequisites:

• The programm is aimed at young grown ups between 18 and 28 years that are German citizens or are permanently resident and have the right of residence in Germany.
• They must either have completed a vocational training course after graduating from school at 15 or 16; or have graduated from secondary school at 18 or 19 having passed the school-leaving examination qualifying them to enter higher education; or have passed a similar school-leaving examination. Applications from people with work experience and students are especially welcome.
• We expect a high degree of independence and self-responsibility. The willingness to adapt to the circumstances of life in the host country and to the requirements of the project are expected.
• You have good knowledges in the language of your host country (in spanish comparable with the level B1 of the European framework of reference, in portuguese: basic knowledge of the language)
• It is obligatory to participate in preparing seminars and events before the voluntary service begins, as well as seminars for returnees. Altogether, there are 25 seminar days.
• It is expected, that the volunteer builds up a support group that raises about 150 Euros every month.
• Applications from East Westphalia are especially welcome.
• Moreover, we are happy to receive applications from people that do vocational training. A qualification through vocational training or work experience can be a substitute for language skills – if they are not sufficient.

In addition, you can get more information on the official “weltwärts” page of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).